Vehicle hitch



March 19', 1940. E ROBERTS 2,193,938

VEHICLE HITCH Filed May 11, 1959 if}. I.

4 Inventor J26. 9- J9. 1f. floberiif 5 By gmwa A iiomeys Patented Mar. 19, 1940 OJUN-ITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 2,193,938 VEHICLE HITCH William E. Roberts, Kirbyville, Tex. Application May 11, 1939, Serial No. 273,079

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hitches for trailers, farm implements, etc., and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying novel'locking means.v

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a hitch of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously connected and disconnected without the use of tools.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hitch of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eificient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost. i

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specifica-.

tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view principally in longitudinal section through a hitch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a View in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that .the reference numeral I designates a'drawbar which is to be secured in any suitable manner to the rear end of a towing. vehicle, such as an automobile or tractor. Extending vertically through the rear end portion of the draw bar I is an opening 2. This is best seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The reference numeral 3 designates the forward end portion of a tongue from a trailer, farm implement or the like, said tongue being in the form of a metallic rod of circular cross section of any suitable diameter. At its forward end, the tongue 3 terminates in a downturned hook i which is engageable in the opening 2, thus pivotally and detachably connecting said tongue to the draw bar I. The hook 4 has formed in its lower end portion an opening 5 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Mounted horizontally on an upper portion of the hook 4 is an elongated metallic plate 6 which is adapted to rest on the drawbar l. The plate 6 has formed therein an opening 1 which accomswing relative to the drawbar.

observed that the weight of the tongue 3 is carmodates the hook 4, said plate rigidly fixed on said hook by welding, as at 8.

The plate 6 is provided with a depending rear end portion 9 which terminates, at its lower end, in a rearwardly extending horizontal flange in having an opening H therein. The lower portion of the depending portion 9 of the plate 6 has formed therein an opening I? for alignment with the opening 5 in the hook 4.

The reference numeral l3 designates a pin which is insertable'through the opening I2 for engagement in the opening 5 in a manner to anchor the hook 4 in the drawbar I. On its rear end the pin 13 is provided with an eye [4 which is aligned with the opening ll forthe reception of a suitable lock (not shown) for preventing unauthorized removal of said pin.

It is thought that the manner in which the hitch functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to connect the tongue 3 to the drawbar l thehook 4 is inserted downwardly through the opening 2 and the plate 6 comes to rest on said drawbar. It will thus be seen that the tongue 3 is free to It will also be ried by the plate 6. The pin I3 is then inserted through the opening I2 and engaged in the. opening 5 thereby positively anchoring the tongue 4 in the drawbar. The aforementioned lock is then inserted through the eye l4 and the opening H in the flange It for securing the pin i3 in position. Of course, to disconnect the tongue 3 it is only necessary to remove the pin l3 and lift the hook 4 out of the opening 2 in the drawbar I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a hitch constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which willfall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A hitch of the character described comprising a tongue, a hook on said tongue engageable in a drawbar, a plate fixed on the hook and v adapted to rest on the drawbar, said hook havengageable in a drawbar, a plate mounted on the hook, said hook having an opening therein spaced from the plate, a flange on the plate having an opening therein, and a pin removably mounted on the plate and engageable in the flrst named opening for anchoring the hook in the drawbar, said pin including an eye on one end for alignment with the second named opening for the reception of a lock for securing said pin in operative position.

3. A hitch of the character described comprising a tongue, a hook on one end of the tongue engageable in a drawbar, said hook having an opening in its free end portion, a plate fixed on the hook in spaced relation to the opening and adapted to rest on the drawbar, said plate including a depending end portion having an opening therein for alignment with the first named opening, an angularly projecting flange on the lower end of said depending portion of the plate, said flange having an opening therein, and a removable pin insertable through the second named opening and engageable in the first named opening for anchoring the hook in the drawbar, said pin including an eye on one end for alignment with the third named opening for receiving a lock for securing said pin in operative position.

WILLIAM E. ROBERTS. 

